Washboard.



H. J. BENTON. WASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED FEBA, 1910.

1HE NaRRzs PEriRs co., WASHINGTON, n. c,

Patented July 12,1910.

HATTIE J. BENTON, OF TWIN FALLS, IDAHO.

s WASHBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Application led. February 4, 1910. Serial No. 542,025.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Harrie J. BENTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Twin Falls, in the county of Twin Falls and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washboards, of.

which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to washboards, the particular object in view being to provide a board of this character with means whereby the rubbing surface when worn can be removed and replaced by a new one at a mini mum cost.

Another object of the invention resides in the peculiar construction of the soap box or shelf, means beinO provided whereby communication is established between points above and below the shelf to allow for a per- 'fect drainage and to permit the waste water to be discharged back into the tub.

Another object is to provide a sanitary washboard wherein parts can be conveniently removed and thoroughly cleaned.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specication and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved washboard. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the rubbing surface removed and the hinged parts of the board in their opened positions. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section through the board. Fig. 4 is a transverse section looking upwardly toward the underside of the soap shelf.

My improved washboard consists of hingedly connected upper and lower members 1 and 2, the member 1 being provided with parallel side portions 3 which are adapted to aline with similar side portions 4 upon the member 2 and with a top piece 17. The side portions 4 are extended downwardly belo'w the member 2 to form suitable supporting legs which are adapted to rest upon the bottom of the tub when the board is in use. The side portions 3 are formed on their inner surfaces with longitudinally extending channels 5 to receive the end portions of a removable backing 6 on flanges 8. The

' side members 3 are connected to each other vby a shelf 7 whose end portions are headed to fit in the upper .portions of the channels 5.

The backing 6 has seated thereagainst a rubbing surface 10 which may be the usual corrugated sheet metal, as shown. The shelf is provided on its forward face with a removable zinc plate 11, the lower edge of which overlaps the upper edge portion of the rubbing surface 10. The side portions4have connected thereto the end portions of a member 12 which is disposed in spaced relation to the back board 2. A Zinc plate 13 is removably secured to t-he forward face of the member 12 and as shown, the upper edge portion of the said plate extends beyond the member in a position to overlap the lower edge of the rubbing surface 10.

The portions 3 are provided with hooks or other equivalent retainers 14 whose bills are adapted to be engaged in passages 15 in the members 4. This construction is such that when the hooks are engaged with the members as just described the members 3 and 4 will be held together rigidly and in a plane with each other. By arranging the Zinc plates 11 and 13 so that they overlap the upper and lower edges of the rubbing surface the said surface will be effectively held against casual displacement.

By arranging the backing 6 in the channels 5 of the members 3 it is held in spaced relation to the backboard 1 to provide a passage `approximately throughout the length of the board, the said passage communicating .with the spaces above and below the shelf 7 by means of suitable discharge passages 16 in the shelf. These discharge passages serve to discharge the waste water from the soap to prevent the water accumulating and settling at any particular point on the board and permitting it to be immediately discharged to the tub. Then the hingedly connected members l and 2 are in their closed positions the member 12 serves as a retainer to engage the lower edge of the backing 6 to hold the latter operatively positioned against the member 1.

The herein described washboard is extremely simple in construction and by hingedly connecting the members 1 and 2 it will be understood that the backing 6 and the rubbing surface 10 can be conveniently removed and cleaned or when desired the rubbing surface when worn can be removed and replaced by a new' surface at a minimum cost.

I claim:

1. A washboard comprising hingedly connected members, having parallel members extending from the sides thereof, and a backing supported by the parallel members and spaced from the back portions of said hingedly connected members, a rubbing surface mounted upon the backing, and means upon the hingedly connected members for engaging the rubbing surface to hold it secured to said backing.

2. A washboard comprising companion upper and lower foldable members, a shelf supported by the upper member, a backing removably supported by the said members and spaced from the back portions thereof, the said shelf having passages which open directly into the space between the back portion of the upper member and the inner surface of the said backing, the said backing having a removable rubbing surface, and retaining means on the foldable members for engaging the backing and the rubbing surface thereof to hold the backing and its rubbing surface in their applied positions.

3. A washboard comprising upper and lower hingedly connected sections, a soap shelf extending from the upper section, a backing constructed for interlocking engagement with the said upper and lower hingedly connected sections, a removable rubbing surface disposed outwardly of the backing, and means on the said upper and lower hingedly connected sections for holding the said rubbing surface to said backing.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HATTIE J. BENTON. Vitnesses E. MCGREGOR, MIKE MGCABE. 

